Do you have any other comments or questions? Contact me at bwhite1@dispatch.com.
On three-legged dogs
For the editor: Dispatch sportswriter Rob Oller described Rutgers as “the pathetic three-legged dog.” Meet Gus the Goldendoodle, who has received a lot of media coverage in the Twin Cities. Gus lost a leg to cancer, but there’s nothing pathetic about him. Gus became a hero when he swam in the St. Croix River and saved a baby otter. The otter would not have survived alone this far from shore and is currently in the care of the Minnesota Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. As for Gus, well, he has three chemo sessions left. Oller must do the right thing and write a column celebrating Gus’ heroism.
Jay Hoster, Christopher Columbus
jay: Decidedly, Gus is not pathetic. In fact, he is a very, very good boy. Rutgers? We’re not so sure.
On college football
For the editor:Another day and we read that another college football player walks into the transfer portal, wanting a better opportunity to actually play the game he loves and not just be canon fodder for first-time players team. Every year, a new batch of high school “wonder” athletes are told by coaches and scouts that they are the next LeBron James or Tom Brady. They then come face to face with reality once they hit the college football meat grinder. I’m sure there are a lot of great athletes who never really get the chance to show their full potential on the field. Many examples exist, such as Russell Wilson and Joe Burrow, to name just two that come quickly to mind. How many other Wilsons and Burrows are there? A large number, I strongly suspect.
Many people will remember when the number of Division I football scholarships was gradually reduced from 105 to 95 and then to 85 currently. This reduction in scholarships was meant to address the pervasive problem of coaches offering large numbers of scholarships to high school athletes just to keep them. to go to other schools and then ‘stockpile’ players or all along knowing they would only be used as practice players. Many believe that this philosophy still exists today, as evidenced by the number of players entering the transfer portal who are successful at another school or the large number of players on the fringes. Additionally, many will recall that there was great angst among the school’s coaches and supporters which, with each reduction in the number of scholarships, would lead to the downfall of college football.
Nothing could be further from the truth. To solve the problem of players not getting a chance to play, player warehousing and false promises from coaches and to help reduce the number of players wanting to transfer, why not reduce the number of scholarships by 10 to 15 more per year? A team of 70-75 players could still have plenty of athletes to field a large team, and more athletes would actually have the opportunity they were told they would have. The idea of reducing the number of scholarships would be met with strong opposition from the college football establishment, but ultimately it would improve the game and the lives of many.
Chet Ridenour, Worthington
in Chet: The transfer portal is a good thing, to release children who have overestimated their own abilities or who have been over-promised by coaches eager to store talents. A reduced roster would be hit even harder by defections, especially in places that see the most players leaving. If you’re 85 and you’re leaving at 20, that’s a problem.
To Brian: College football may need to make some changes to survive in the future. Two issues have emerged: college enrollment is down, and overall attendance is down — steadily since 2013. Big Ten attendance in 2021 has actually increased slightly; Michigan being the national leader. Some of the reasons for declining enrollment may be due to students deciding to work or study elsewhere. They want a better return on their investment. Additionally, a lower birth rate coupled with the death of baby boomers will affect our colleges.
Also, fans don’t want the same teams every year in the CFP. Will parity help? Various ideas have been suggested about this: Limit four and five star recruits per school. Limit coach salaries. And revenue sharing – probably the least desired choice to reduce financial losses in some schools. How about reducing ticket prices on empty seats on match day?
I still want OSU to be dominant in the Big Ten. Good ideas will improve and strengthen conferences in terms of revenue, recruitment and fans in the stands.
Larry Cheek, Dublin
To Larry: Lots of ideas there. The hope of many is that if attendance continues to fall, the market will naturally correct itself and ticket prices will stop skyrocketing.
On the reds
For the editor: I lived in Columbus for over 20 years and have been a Reds fan for the past 19 years. A few good years but not many. I’ve supported the Reds through all the player changes – O’Neill, Phillips, Frazier, Bruce and now Winker and Suarez. There are still great players in the team, but no bench and no substitutes able to deal with injuries. Now Bally Sports Ohio is ahead of the Reds games. What does everyone think about it?
Dr Frederick
More from The Mailbox
Ohio State should remove the asterisk; and did Quinn Ewers pay his taxes?
The reader longs for the days when Ohio State Buckeyes football played a real spring game
Baker Mayfield gets bad press in this Deshaun Watson mess
In defense of Chris Holtmann, and the Browns need Kevin Costner again
Readers want to know why Ohio State men’s basketball isn’t an elite program
Readers disagree on the direction of Ohio State basketball under Chris Holtmann
Illinois fans don’t like pointing fingers at their angry coach
Why are Illinois and Michigan okay with the behavior of their basketball coaches?
Why does Notre Dame get a CFP vote? And is Rob Oller great or “sad and cynical”?
On Joe Burrow, a man with many college degrees